Japanese Spirea: You Might Not Have to Skip It!
Love the look of Japanese Spirea but worried about its reputation? Discover non-invasive varieties that offer beauty without the spread.
Japanese spirea, also known as Japanese meadowsweet, is a popular flowering shrub known for its flat-topped lacy clusters of pink flowers.
This low-maintenance plant is a popular choice among gardeners, and many different varieties are readily available at garden centers and big box stores.
But before you add one to your shopping cart, you may want to think twice and double-check which variety you’re grabbing…let’s examine why!
Japanese spirea is a popular, low-maintenance garden plant.
Is Japanese Spirea Invasive?
Japanese spirea has become invasive in many parts of the United States, particularly in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, where it spreads aggressively by seed and crowds out our native plants. You can view the full range on the Invasive Plant Atlas map.
It forms dense thickets and disrupts local ecosystems by outcompeting our native plants and the wildlife that depend on them.
If you love the look of spirea but want to plant responsibly, opt for seedless or low-fertility cultivars that won’t spread by self-seeding. These varieties provide the same vibrant flowers and foliage without the risk of invasiveness.
Keep scrolling for a list of non-invasive spirea varieties to consider!
Where to Plant Japanese Spirea
Front of the house – Adds curb appeal with colorful blooms and tidy growth.
Foundation planting – A great choice for softening the base of your home.
Low hedge – Forms a compact, easy-to-maintain border.
Soften a chain-link fence – Provides a softer and more attractive natural screen.
Mixed border – Pairs well with perennials and other shrubs for layered interest.
Island bed – Creates a focal point with seasonal color.
Narrow strip along a driveway – Adds color and interest without overwhelming small spaces.
Mass planting – Excellent for erosion control and a bold visual impact.
Cottage garden – Fits right in with informal, flower-filled landscapes.
Slopes and banks – Helps stabilize soil while providing seasonal beauty.
Double Play® Doozie is a non-invasive spirea variety with deep reddish-purple flowers. Image courtesy of Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc.
Non-Invasive Spirea Varieties
The following spirea varieties are considered non-invasive. They are either sterile or produce very few viable seeds and won’t invade in the landscape. The list includes hybrid Japanese spirea varieties as well as other spirea species with a similar look.
Double Play® Candy Corn (Spiraea japonica 'NCSX1') has bright foliage in shades of red, yellow and orange, with vivid purple-red blooms. A low-growing 18-24 inches tall, it makes a great mass planting, low hedge, or filler for the front of the border.
Double Play® Doozie (Spiraea x 'NCSX2') begins to bloom in late spring with deep reddish-purple flowers that continue through until fall. It keeps a tidy, mounded shape and grows 2-3 feet high and wide, making it perfect for foundation plantings or lining walkways and sidewalks.
Powder Puff™ (Spirea x 'NHN1BH') blooms from summer through fall with lavender pink flowers, growing 2-3 feet high and 3-4 feet wide. Use it in a garden border, mixed bed or container planting.
Neon Flash (Spiraea japonica 'Neon Flash') has bright red-pink flowers and deep green foliage that turns red in autumn, growing up to 3 feet tall and wide. Use it for mass plantings or to create a low hedge.
Dart’s Red (Spiraea x bumalda 'Dart's Red') blooms from late spring through summer with cherry red flowers that age to a rich pink, contrasting beautifully against deep green leaves. It makes a great low hedge, mass planting, or filler plant.
Crispa (Spiraea x bumalda 'Crispa') is a sport of the popular ‘Anthony Waterer’ variety. It has flat-topped clusters of deep pink flowers and unusual red-tinted crinkly green leaves. It grows up to 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide, and is not as widely available as other types of spirea - you may need to search online.
Double Play® Candy Corn is a non-invasive spirea variety. Image courtesy of Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc.
Is Japanese Spirea Deer-Resistant?
All spirea, including Japanese spirea, are considered to be deer-resistant plants. Deer tend to avoid spirea’s foliage and flowers, most likely due to their unappetizing taste or texture (I haven’t asked a deer, so who really knows? 😉).
Rutgers University rates spirea as “seldom severely damaged” on their list of Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance. But, sadly, no plant is 100% deer proof.
When food is limited, deer become less picky and will eat almost anything, including plants they usually avoid.